Give GM Jerry Jones a Pat On The Back For 2009 Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones has taken a lot of heat the last thirteen years. From Chan Gailey to Bill Parcells, GM Jones has fielded teams that failed to quench his thirst for NFL championships.

 Enter Wade Phillips, an NFL lifer. A coach who has over thirty years of coaching experience, but mostly known for only being a good defensive coordinator.

 The national and local media had a field day. Jerry Jones just doesn’t know football they said. His hands didn’t belong in the cookie jar they said. I can’t blame Jerry for wanting to take part in the on-the-field management of his Golden Goose. I likewise can’t blame the media for going at him like a pack of wild dogs when he screws up horribly.

 Jerry Jones deserves the criticism he receives. At the same time let us give him credit when he makes the right decisions.

 Hiring and keeping Wade Phillips as Head coach/defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys was a good decision. Keeping Jason Garrett to be offensive coordinator was a good decision. Hiring Joe DeCamillas to coach the special teams was a most brilliant decision. He let scouting director Tom Ciskowski do his job and drafted players like Mike Jenkins and DeMarcus Ware for the defensive side of the ball, and players like Felix Jones and Jason Witten for the offensive side. Let’s not forget about David Buehler and Mat McBriar for special teams.

The acquisition of Keith Brooking as a free agent was just what the doctor ordered. I can't express how much I think bringing Brooking to the team meant. With these pieces in place, Jones has covered his bases, while building a winner.

 An NFL team needs to be solid in all phases of the game in order to compete at the highest of levels. The 2009 Dallas Cowboys have that. All three units, defense, offense, and special teams, have been performing at a high level during their December-January run.

 Jerry Jones can step back a little now and enjoy the fruits of his labor. He doesn’t have to hover over the coaches’ shoulder and tinker with things now. He has put competent and capable coaches in the right positions and let them do all the tinkering when needed. He has overseen the drafting and acquisition of the entire Cowboys roster.  He has allowed the coaches to coach the players, and they’ve responded.

 These players believe in Coach Phillips and his so called player friendly attitude, and Coach Phillips believes in them.

 The Dallas Cowboys have a TEAM now (something they have been sorely lacking in recent years) with an unquestioned leader on both sides of the ball. On offense the leader is obviously Tony Romo, with Jones jettisoning Terrell Owens off the team in the offseason. Meanwhile Phillips himself leads this dominant defense. This team is well put together and well coached. Thanks GM Jerry Jones.